How Will Espindola Fit In???

Now that the news about Espindola’s return is final, how will he fit in? First of all, he should come in game-fit so that shouldn’t be an issue. Second of all, he should know the players and system fairly well from last season. So he should be able to be integrated right away.

Does he deserve to start? What combination of forwards is our best? Findley/Movsisyan? Espindola/Movsisyan? Espindola/Findley? Here are some of my thoughts:

Each of the three forwards has their strengths and limitations.

Findley:

Robbie has great pace as everyone knows. He also has tremendous leaping ability and is our best forward in the air by far. He is also a surprisingly good passer as witnessed by his quality backheel to Javi for the game winner against DC. Robbie also was 2nd on the team in 2008, with 5 assists.

The biggest knock on Findley has been his first touch, but he has shown a great touch so far this season. His ability to catch the ball on his knee from a long overhead pass by Borchers against DC was phenomenal. However, that play also demonstrated another weakness which is the fact that he doesn’t have a lot of on-the-ball strength. On that play he was easily knocked off the ball and failed to get off a shot with any power. Findley also does not have a powerful shot and must rely on precision to get the ball past the keeper. He can be very opportunistic. He’s a decent finisher in this regard, but he will always need a fairly open chance to score.

As you can see below of the 3 forwards he gets shots off with the least amount of frequency (a shot every 33 minutes), and he gets a shot on goal with much less frequency than the other two (every 82 minutes). He scores a goal every 192 minutes, which is just over every two matches, not a bad statistic. However, Robbie has shown to be streaky since joining the team and disappears for long stretches.

Movsisyan

Yura’s combination of strength, speed and determination are what makes him a quality forward. He’s great at holding off the defender to get to the ball. He also can make some moves with his feet, but in general struggles to get separation. Yura has a great work rate and the hot streak he had at the end of last season put him among one of the most productive forwards in the league, but can he continue that this year?

He’s taken far too much criticism for lacking quality finishing ability, but he has not shown the ability to consistently take advantage of opportunities. For his size, Yura is also not particularly good in the air. Early last season Yura tried to get to crafty with the ball and do far too much on his own. He tallied a single assist despite having the ball at his feet in the final 3rd quite often. This year he appears to have a renewed interest in passing, and this could help the team to see a deadly strike duo emerge this season.

As you can see from the stats below, Yura isn’t shy about getting shots off taking one every 19 minutes. That’s 4.7 shots per 90-minute game. He gets about half of these shots on frame which isn’t bad. Unfortunately he is only able to put one in the net every 214 minutes. That’s nearly 1 goal every 2.4 games. Not horrible, but considering how often he gets shots off it could improve.

Espindola

Fabian has a good combination of strength on the ball, determination and technical ability. He’s not the fastest guy out there but he can cause fits for defenders on the left side of the box. Being a left-footed guy also helps the cause on a team lacking true left-sided players. He’s also a player that is willing and able to run at defenders with the ball, which is different than either Movsisyan or Findley.

Fabian’s finest moment last season came against Colorado at home. It was a game that Espindola dominated, scoring a brace, and nearly getting a hat-trick. Espindola’s biggest negative in his time with RSL was his health as he missed a number of games with injury.

The thing that Fabi demonstrated last season was a dealiness and ability to punish the opposing defenses that the team has always lacked. As you can see from the stats he managed a shot every 26 minutes which is respectable, and put an extremely high percentage of these on goal. However, his best asset was the clinical finishing he demonstrated putting every 5th shot in the back of the net to score every game and a half.

Robbie Findley
Year	Min/Sht	Min/SOG	Min/G
2009	29	77	77
2008	34	83	249
Totals	33	82	192
Yura Movsisyan
Year	Min/Sht	Min/SOG	Min/G
2009	23	45	-
2008	18	37	176
Totals	19	38	214
Fabian Espindola
Year	Min/Sht	Min/SOG	Min/G
2009	-	-	-
2008	26	38	128
Totals	26	38	128

Combinations

While it’s impossible to project how well a forward combination will do together until they actually get together on the field, here are some brief thoughts:

• Movsisyan/Findley: We have seen this combination, and it works reasonably well. However, I think this combination may lack the ability to create their own chances against some of the top defenses in the league. Movsisyan does the heavy lifting in this duo running down balls, and keeping defenders off of him with the shoulder. Findley takes the opportunities that present themselves and uses his pace to get behind defenders. He also gets his head on crosses.
• Movsisyan/Espindola: This combination could produce some results. Both players like to have the ball in the final third. Both will look to shoot first, but Espindola in particular will recognize good passing opportunities. Neither will scare opponents with their speed. Neither play a back to the goal style. Both are tenacious. Espindola’s technical ability and aptitude to run at defenders could allow more ability to create opportunities on their own than the Movsisyan/Findley duo. This combination would also allow Findley to play a super-sub role and get the most out of his blazing pace against tired defenders late in games.
• Espindola/Findley: With Movsisyan coming into the season as the “annointed one” based on his hot streak last season, I have a hard time imagining a lineup without him. I still think he has a lot to offer. However, I like this combination more than the other two. The reason: these two have are the most different. Espindola can pick out Findley with a cross for a header. He can slot the ball through when Findley makes a well-timed run and he can play the ball out in to space for Findley to run onto. He also can work with the ball out on the left side, opening up the middle for Findley and the midfielders.

What are your thoughts? Who should be the starting forwards once Espindola comes into the mix? (please note, I’ve left Escalada out of the mix simply because I don’t know enough about him to judge his abilities).

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Historic Hat-Trick

 

Robbie Findley Nets Three in Victory Over Champs

Real Salt Lake enjoyed a magical night tonight with a 4-1 win against the Columbus Crew. The Man of the Match was clearly Robbie Findley who recorded his first professional hat-trick, and Real Salt Lake's first league hat-trick (althought coach Jason Kreis did have a hat-trick in an Open Cup match).

Robbie Findley seemed extremely excited over the 3-goal output that he was able to manage. In 2 of the last 4 matches that I have witnessed Robbie play in he has dominated the action - tonight and then against Charleston a couple of weeks back. Let's hope this activity and quality of play continues.

Several other players had good matches:

Movsisyan: good work on the pitch tonight but he failed to finish one of his several chances. He also supplied some good balls to his teammates, including an assist to Findley on a goal, already equaling his assist count from last season.

Mathis: as Kreis mentioned, Mathis has been good on the ball in both matches. He had 2 assists in this match, and he is very underrated in his ability to pressure the ball and cause opponents to give up possession.

Johnson: That first blast at the goal which resulted in a rebound and eventually the opening goal at the 2nd minute mark was amazing. It was 25 yards out, but Will told me that he likes to take those kind of free kicks and he talked Javi off the ball just prior to the kick. Look for more of this from distance in the future.

Beltran: Okay so it wasn't stellar, but this position was my biggest concern coming into the match, especially when I saw Rogers in the Starting XI for the Crew. I thought Beltran had a decent outing and did reasonably well against Schelotto. Not spectacular but headed in the right direction.

Borchers: Phenomenal match. He helped avert so many "almosts" on the part of the Crew that I lost count.

The crowd was a mixture of disappointment and admiration.

Disappointment - because of their sparse numbers. 11,806 was the announced crowd which is based on paid tickets, but the real number in attendance was likely several thousand less than that. While there were several reasons for this low attendance, you would hope that the support for the club would be strong enough to drive people into the seats even under adverse circumstances.

Admiration - because there were alot of reasons to stay home, but a solid core chose to attend anyway. And the crowd was surprisingly vocal despite their small numbers (of course it's easier to be vocal when your club leads start-to-finish). In addition, this crew largely remained even after a heavy rain began to come down during the last 10 minutes of the match when the team enjoyed a 3-goal lead.

Keep in mind that the Crew did have a depleted lineup and were facing a situation of looking ahead to the Chivas game on Sunday as well. We should avoid getting ahead of ourselves as to what this means for future weeks, but if nothing else I think Kreis was likely right when he said how "important it was for us to score early on, and especially to have Findley score the goal." This should boost his confidence dramatically.

What are your thoughts on tonight's match?

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Projected Starting Lineup

 

Based on the starting lineup used against the Austin Aztex, I think the beginning of the season Starting XI is pretty clear.  It looks essentially like this…

FW:		Movsisyan		Findley
ACM:			Morales
MF:		Johnson		Mathis
DM:			Beckerman
DF:	Wingert	Borchers		Olave	Beltran
GK:			Rimando

Ian Joy appears to be out 4-6 weeks due to a hamstring injury that has been bothering him all preseason and was re-aggravated during the match against the Aztex.

Borchers has also been suffering from an injury to his ankle from the bone spur surgery that he underwent in December.  However, he played in the Aztex match and appeared to be moving fine.

Robbie Russell appears back to full health and could be in the mix as well.

I’m okay with this lineup, but I could also see a couple of alterations as the season moves along.

First, although Findley and Movsisyan appear to be clearly the best two forwards at this point, I wouldn’t mind seeing Findley come off the bench in certain matches.  Not only do I like the concept of Findley bringing his pace in against the legs of tired defenders, but I think Escalada provides something that Findley and Movsisyan don’t.  He is a more technical player and can get into the mix of the tight passing game that RSL employs through the midfield.  From my brief observations in Charleston and at practice, Escalada shows signs of being a precise finisher (although we didn’t see that against the Aztex).  Like most people I’m not sold that he can do it in this league, but I’m ready to see him in some real action.

Second, I am torn between Ian Joy at left back or Tony Beltran at right back, with Wingert sliding over to the left.  I like Ian’s grit and experience, and he’s a great professional to have out on the pitch.  However, Ian doesn’t have a lot of pace and seems a little hesitant at times to push forward.  Beltran on the other hand is inclined to push forward at every chance.  This can be good, or bad.  He can get caught out of position, but his pace and recovery ability can make up for his occasional defensive lapses.  We’ll see how Beltran does during the first few matches of the season.

There are some other players that I am also interested to see how they fit into the mix: 

• Ned Grabavoy – it didn’t seem like he was really fitting in yet with the group in Charleston.  I’m curious about what contribution we’ll see out of him this season.
• Andy Williams – I assume that we will see a similar reserve role out of Andy where he comes in late in matches to either help close out a game with his ability to help the team hold the ball, or in pressing for a goal.
• Robbie Russell – a talented player, with a lot of good experience.  I think he’ll play a lot this season in fill-in roles, but he doesn’t have a designated position which may keep him from being a regular starter anytime soon.

What are your thoughts?

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Daily Update: Thursday Jul 17, 2008

Hard work pays dividends for RSL duo -> MLSnet/John Coon
On Thursday, Seitz and Sturgis were both named to the squad that will represent the United States at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing next month.

A third RSL player, Robbie Findley, was chosen as an alternate to that team. Findley will not travel with the team to China, unless an injury creates an opening for him to fill on the 18-man roster.

Real Salt Lake duo picked for Olympic roster headed to Beijing -> Deseret News/James Edward
The majority of the MLS players will report to Olympic training camp at Stanford University on July 20. The team will then head to Hong Kong to participate in the ING Cup beginning on July 25.

2008 U.S. MEN’S OLYMPIC TEAM ROSTER BY POSITION
GOALKEEPERS (2): Brad Guzan (Chivas USA), Chris Seitz (Real Salt Lake)

DEFENDERS (5): Patrick Ianni (Houston Dynamo), Michael Orozco (San Luis), Michael
Parkhurst (New England Revolution), Nathan Sturgis (Real Salt Lake), Marvell Wynne (Toronto FC)

MIDFIELDERS (7): Freddy Adu (SL Benfica), Michael Bradley (SC Heerenveen), Maurice Edu (Toronto FC), Benny Feilhaber (Derby County), Stuart Holden (Houston Dynamo), Sacha Kljestan (Chivas USA), Danny Szetela (Brescia Calcio)

FORWARDS (4): Jozy Altidore (Villarreal), Charlie Davies (Hammarby IF), Brian McBride (out of contract), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew)

U.S. Men’s Olympic Team Alternates List
Goalkeeper: Dominic Cervi (Out of Contract)
Defender: Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew)
Midfielder: Dax McCarty (FC Dallas)
Forward: Robbie Findley (Real Salt Lake)

First-place RSL pay visit to Chicago -> MLSnet
The visit to Bridgeview is the first of seven games away from home over the next two months - where Real have won just once in seven outings.

Chicago Fire Look to Prove They Are For Real Against Real Sal Lake -> American Soccer News/rpezold
As evidence of the growing strength of the MLS, the Fire’s match against Real Salt Lake will be no walk in the park. Real Salt Lake, like many MLS clubs, is statistically middle of the pack. Through 17 matches they have won six, lost six and tied five matches. In so doing, they have managed to score 20 goals while giving up 19.

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A Real World Review: Monday June 30, 2008

A Real World Review

A Review of Week 15 for RSL

By Paul Bernhardt (aka, BalanceUT)

Key Developments: RSL continues to struggle on the road with the loss in KC. Fortunately, the performance of other Western Conference teams allowed RSL to maintain their 2nd place position in the conference. Now at the halfway point of the season, the team at 19 points means they are just shy of the points typically needed to make the playoffs.

What’s Right in the Real World: Defense. Even though giving up a goal due to an error in judgment Saturday night in KC, the 2008 edition of RSL has the overall best defense in franchise history. The center tandem of Olave and Borchers may be the best pair in the league. Wingert has shaken off some early season jitters to play solidly. Beltran is clearly a rookie, but has high skills and sufficient speed for recovery such that he does not cause the high level of worry of previous outside backs. Compared to previous seasons, this past couple of months is the first time that we could count on seeing the same four consistently in the back and know that they will serve the needs of the upcoming match.

The midfield is also right in the Real World. While it was not terribly obvious in KC, Morales, Williams, Kovalenko and Beckerman fundamentally do what is asked. What makes RSL’s midfield not look to be high quality, particularly at home and at KC is narrow pitches. A narrow pitch crowds players such that the space for passing is restricted, leading to less of an apparent flow. The proof for me, however, is in the fact that KC looked essentially as restricted. That means our crew was doing as much to them as they were to us. Play that is essentially a draw when on the road is what you need for your team and the midfield provided that.

What’s Wrong in the Real World? Still, finishing. While not the horror of missed opportunities that we saw hosting San Jose last week, RSL blew some clear chances, any one of which could have made KC work for a draw or even resulted in stealing 3 points. Notably, Dr. “Goals” did not produce again. This has been blamed on lack of service from the midfield. But, I think that is misplaced blame. I believe that Deuchar is not getting open in positions where the midfielders want to give him the ball. He is fighting constantly in the box and often losing that battle. That continued in the KC game. Deuchar would get the ball either too far out from the goal and alone with no options but to try to work the ball with his feet, a disastrous choice. He is called for fouls all the time while fouls against him seem never called. Findley seemed to be still suffering from the effects of his mild concussion from the week before. The lack of production of Deuchar and Findley, appropriately, lead to their being substituted off in favor of Movsisyan and Nunez, who did no better. Part of that is Movsisyan’s inability to keep his head up and pass to others. When, oh when, will Espindola return? And, when he does, will he be the same player he was so many months ago?

A certain amount of the problem for RSL in KC was due to the coin flip. When the coin flip allowed KC to put the sun in Rimando’s eyes, RSL had to play a very defensive first half. Many times all 11 were in RSL’s end of the field. Kreis likes to have RSL come out attacking, but it was clearly not an option in the match. When KC came out the second half very aggressive, RSL did not adjust well and it was a dicey start to the half.

In the end, what scuttled RSL’s road point was a careless foul by Cutler. Sometimes it seems that Cutler’s role is ill-defined. Defensive, yet carries himself to the attack very easily. This sounds like Beckerman, but Cutler does not have Beckerman’s talent level. So, Cutler, in trying to recover going back, fouled and that set up the opportunity for KC.

Leading to the last thing wrong in the Real World: Best seen in the contrast to KC’s scoring opportunity, RSL needs to be much more dangerous on set pieces. Usually Morales is quite good, certainly better than Williams ever was in previous seasons (and I am a pretty big Williams fan). But, against KC, he was off the mark. RSL needed to convert one of its several set pieces (and nearly did, but close does not count).

A Brief Look at the Week Ahead: Back in the friendly confinement of Rice Eccles, RSL will need to take advantage of the home field against a resurgent Houston Dynamo. Houston started the season terribly shaky, particularly compared to expectations. But they have recovered substantially and is a good road team, having the highest number of road draws of any MLS team. RSL and Houston are tied for 2nd in the West. This is the opportunity for RSL to make a statement that they intend to contend for a playoff spot. History says that RSL should be content with a draw against the two-time defending MLS Champions. But, given that RSL’s form at home, a defense that is very good and Houston’s problems with finishing, this game is RSL’s to take. I predict RSL 1-0 Houston.

Final Thoughts: RSL is really in pretty good shape, particularly compared to previous seasons. Kreis has completed what he initiated last season, shoring up the defense. The first step to winning in soccer is to stop losing, to stop giving up easy goals. RSL’s defense is clearly solid, and Olave is spectacular. This allows the rest of the team to go forward. I think RSL has all the pieces to be a playoff team, but Deuchar is the key. If he can ever get a proper feel for the MLS game, he will become quite dangerous. He still seems to be knocked around in the box with impunity, yet when he returns the favor he is called on the fouls. Unfair or not, he has to figure out what to do to become effective in MLS. When he does, and he shows he can convert the chances, the team will find it easier to get the ball to him, opening up options for other players. RSL can become a team that opponents dread coming to town and fear to visit, because all the rest of the team is sufficient. RSL can be playoff bound with only a little improvement in offense.

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Controversy

The “Controversy”: As most of you are aware, Real Salt Lake had their second major controversy of the season this week in their match against San Jose. The first controversy occurred against Toronto early in the season when 3 minutes of stoppage time was signaled, but the referee blew the whistle after only about 1 minute. In retrospect this was most likely inconsequential, but it’s conceivable that RSL could have scored an equalizer with those last 2 minutes of lifeline. This incident played a major part in Jason Kreis later being fined by the league for some critical comments in the Deseret News.

This week’s big controversy appears to have a direct result on the outcome. The play that led to the controversy happened around the 72nd minute of the game, when Javier Morales put a well-placed corner kick onto the head of Robbie Findley who flicked the ball forward to a forward rushing Kyle Beckerman who appeared to be beyond the final defender when the ball was played and just managed to get his toe onto it to put the ball into the net. My initial reaction was that he was offside on the play, but there was no such indication. A goal was indicated on the scoreboard. Both the referee, Jason Anno, and the assistant seemed to indicate a goal and trotted toward midfield for the ensuing restart. However suddenly there seemed to be confusion as the team and crowd continued to celebrate. Some discussion took place with referee and players on the field. The referee took the ball down toward the San Jose goal and pulled an RSL player in for a chat (I believe it was Javier Morales, despite the fact that Beckerman was the goal scorer and the one with the captain’s armband I believe). Next thing you knew, Joe Cannon was placing the ball at the 6 yard spot for a goal kick.



Two points of controversy came out of this. The first point of controversy was the impression that the referee disregarded the assistant who kept his flag down on the play, and was somehow influenced (either by watching the scoreboard or by the appeals of the San Jose players) to change the ruling. Many have claimed to have witnessed both of these occurring, but I have not seen any visual evidence of this, or heard any confirmation of this from anyone on the field. Obviously if the referee is swayed by the replay or players on the field, that would seem to be a major integrity issue. The second point of controversy came after the fact, when evidence came to light that there was a defender out wide that appeared to keep Beckerman onside after all. This wasn’t initially obvious because the player was out near the sideline defending the corner and Beckerman was directly in front of the goal. This controversy would have been a point of discussion in any event, but likely would have quickly blown over. However, combined with the referee’s change of heart on the call, this has received much more attention.

What are your thoughts on this situation? It will be interesting to see what conclusion the MLS officials come to when they review this weeks on the field officiating.

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Daily Update: Friday Jun 20, 2008

MLS Refs In The Spotlight Again -> Soccer America
There was some suspicion among players that the referee had watched the video replay on the Rice-Eccles Stadium big screen. He shouldn't have (but then neither should it have been shown), but if he did then his judgment's still up for question - footage at MLSnet.com shows that a San Jose defender covering the corner kick plays Beckerman onside in any case.

RSL settles for tie after ref's call nullifies goal against San Jose -> The Salt Lake Tribune/Sunnie Redhouse
Not long after Real Salt Lake played a 0-0 tie with the San Jose Earthquakes on Wednesday night, midfielder Kyle Beckerman ran back on the field to retrace his steps for general manager Garth Lagerwey. He wasn't looking for a lost item, but rather demonstrating why his controversial goal off a header from Robbie Findley, in the 72nd minute, should have counted.

Real Salt Lake ready for Revs -> MLSnet
One game away from tying their club record unbeaten run, Real Salt Lake play host to a New England Revolution sporting an unbeaten skein of their own

Game notes: New England at Salt Lake -> New England Revolution Media Relations
The Revolution's current seven-game unbeaten run is the longest by any team in the league this season

Real Salt Lake gets the OK for 5,000 nearby parking spots -> The Salt Lake Tribune
Drivers can expect to pay $3 to $7 per car. A shuttle service will be provided between parking lots and the 20,000-seat stadium.

Former RSL coach Ellinger joins Hoops' staff -> seattlepi
Ellinger joins FCD from U.S. Youth Soccer, having served as its Technical Director from October 2007 until last week.

Ellinger brings experience to FCD staff -> MLSnet/Steve Hunt
Hyndman feels that despite not making the MLS Cup Playoffs in his two-plus years with RSL, Ellinger did his best.

Real Salt Lake details parking plans for its Sandy stadium -> Deseret News/ Rebecca Palmer
A close look at the plan, though, shows that Real officials are relying on free public parking and fans' willingness to walk several blocks.

Sounders pleased to borrow native son Nik Besagno -> The Seattle Times
"Sitting on the bench wasn't doing him any good," said Garth Lagerwey, Real Salt Lake general manager. "For him to get games with a high-quality team like Seattle, that's a good thing. We can recall him any time if we need him."

Real Salt Lake: RSL can't hide disappointment -> The Salt Lake Tribune/Michael C. Lewis
Having finally broken through for a goal in the second half, RSL moments later was denied the score on a referee's controversial decision

Down to 10 players, Quakes earn a tie -> Mercury News/Andrew Aragon
with the Quakes' history at Rice-Eccles Stadium, as well as the team having to play with a man down for more than 50 minutes, the result felt more like a victory for San Jose

Third time not the charm for RSL -> MLSnet/John Coon
RSL failed to take advantage of the Earthquakes playing a man down for the entire second half of play and ended up walking away with a second consecutive 0-0 draw amid boos at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Wednesday evening.

Real Salt Lake, Earthquakes play to scoreless draw -> KSL (video included)
"Any time you don't win at home, you're losing points," Real midfielder Kyle Beckerman said. "The games that we're tying, we're the better team on the field. We're pretty happy we're not giving up many goals, and we're not losing. That's a good sign for us to keep pushing forward."

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Home Sweet Home

Some thoughts on tonights match:

• Great outcome but should have been expected. Temporarily puts us 3 games out of 1st in the West. A word of caution though - we are just starting a phase heavy on home games. We are undefeated in 5 home games this season. We NEED to win these due to the inability we have shown to pick up points on the road.
• Kreis indicated that an article in todays newspaper (presumably Michael C. Lewis' article yesterday actually) may have provided motivation for the team.
• Chris Wingert: good game getting forward and helping to create havoc in the final 3rd. Was this elevated play on his behalf or just a result of him having more freedom due to San Jose's inability to put pressure on RSL's defense?
• Javier Morales: Man of the match. Probably best match of the season. Scored a goal and an assist to put him in the league lead in that category.
• Robbie Findley: Break out game or anomoly? The goal he scored was a solid strike (although I'm a bit surprised that Cannon didn't get a hand on it. He showed decent touch and actually did something with the ball on several occasions.
• Fabian Espindola: reportedly left the game with a slight injury. Appeared visibily upset on the sideline, and was dressed and exiting the stadium within about 3 minutes of the end of the match. Is there something beyond the injury at play here?
• Kenny Deuchar and Ryan Cochrane had an emotional, heated personal battle that lasted throughout the match.
• Word on the street is that the Leo that appeared at the match was an imposter.

(click images to enlarge)

MLS POSTGAME QUOTE SHEET (courtesy RSL communications)
REAL SALT LAKE 3 : 1 SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
SATURDAY, MAY 31, 2008
RICE-ECCLES STADIUM – SALT LAKE CITY, UT

REAL SALT LAKE FW ROBBIE FINDLEY

On the flow of the game:
“The first half was a little bit sloppy, we didn’t have a real good flow of the game. But for the second half we got a little talking [in the locker room], got us riled up and we went out and played like we wanted to.”

On the pressure to win:
“We knew we had to get (the win), but we’re at home, we’ve been doing well at home so far, so we just had to go out there and keep doing the same thing we’ve been doing and be able to hold them for 90 minutes.”

REAL SALT LAKE FW KENNY DEUCHAR

On the play of Robbie Findley:
“I’ve got to hand it to Robbie, he came into the game and started the game for us with a goal and an assist. He was excellent for us today.”

On RSL’s home-field advantage:
“It’s real important when you play in any league that your home form is good. That’s obviously five games, six if you include the Open Cup game, that we’re undefeated at home. We’ve got a lot of good wins right here as well. We’ve got to concentrate on keeping this place a very had place to come to. Teams don’t like coming here, and if they know we are good at home they’re going to like it even less.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES HEAD COACH FRANK YALLOP

On what happened after the good start:
“We did well in the first half and came into halftime nil-nil, which away from home is what you try to do. Obviously a goal would’ve been good but we didn’t even really look like scoring the first half. It’s just disappointing the goals that went in, the first one was a good goal, it was a good strike by [Robbie] Findley, the second one looked a little easy but I’d have to look at them on tape. It’s always a little difficult to figure out.”

On playing in Salt Lake City three times in seven weeks:
“I’m not in love with the field to be honest; it was a terrible game to watch. The first half was awful. It’s just tough for our players to come and play on it, that’s hard. We play them in a couple weeks and we better be ready for that one. We had the Open Cup and we conceded four goals and tonight three, so we need to make sure we’re ready for the next game.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES MF RAMIRO CORRALES:

On the Earthquakes’ performance tonight:
“I think we did a good job in the first half. We were very compact and did a good job, but I think we lost our shape a little bit in the second half and then they scored the first goal and it was pretty much over after that. It felt like we started dragging a little more after the first one, and then they got the second, and then the third, and it’s tough after that.”

On missing key players:
“I think the guys that came in for the other guys did A-OK. I don’t think it was that [missing key players], I think we just lost it a little bit in the second half.”

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES DF NICK GARCIA:

On starting strong and falling apart:
“We fell asleep. In the first half we were fortunate for Joe [Cannon] to come up big on that penalty kick, and the second half was just a luckless effort and we were punished for it. The steady slippery slope began from that point on and we were punished. I don’t think Salt Lake’s three goals better than us. We’ve given up seven goals in the past two games; the one was an Open Cup (game), so I don’t really count that, but they were the better team tonight.”

On what San Jose can take from this result::
“We’ve just got to get it going from the beginning. It just can’t be one of those things where they score a goal or two and then we get going. We’ve had a little bit of a roller coaster ride in the beginning of the season, with some wins and some ties and some losses, and for us we’ve gotta get the ship on course. We’re almost a third of the way through the season, so for us we’ve gotta get some results; whether it’s home or away we need to start winning because losing is never fun. We’ve got to get that bitter taste out of our mouth and make the most of it.”

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A Real World Review: Wednesday May 28, 2008

A Real World Review

A Review of Week 9 for RSL

(Courtesy of Derek Hoopes)

This Weeks Results: 2-1 Loss against FC Dallas / 2-0 Loss against Columbus (Open Cup)

Record: 2-5-2

Points: 8

Key Developments: Winless streak on the road continues to plague RSL.

What's right in the Real World: Since I am in a rather foul mood as of late, and because I just threw my pitcher of RSL Cool Aid out the window, I should be able to offer an unbiased view from where I sit, in the stands, as an RSL fan. What’s right? Hold on while I go upside-down into the barrel of soccer trash and see if I can scrape something off of the bottom for us.

As disappointing as this season has been for us so far, one would think that the playoffs may already be sinking beneath the horizon of our future. But wait. I just found “What’s right” number one. We are only four points away from being tied for second place in the Western Standings, and only six points from first. Wow. Thanks to a seemingly weak western side of the league, RSL is still firmly within reach of making the playoffs for the first time in their existence. Things will have to improve in several areas to make this happen, but those needed improvements may not be that far out of reach for a team that (unlike last year) keeps fighting to get better. I don’t sense a defeated attitude from the team and that tells me that we are at least headed in the right direction mentally.

Hey! I found something else in here. “What’s right” number two shows me just how close to becoming a contender we might be. If this team knew how to close out a game properly, we could easily find ourselves feeling better about the season so far. Take our first game of the season against Chicago, the 2-2 draw against Los Angeles, and the 2-1 loss in Dallas last weekend (all winnable games), and close those out the way they should have been. That’s seven points dropped! We’d be at the top of the table singing praises to the soccer gods. I know that most would point out that not being able to finish games is one of the main reasons why this team is failing so far this season, but I would argue that we have the talent to succeed in this. If we can figure out how to finish, RSL would make a huge step forward toward making the playoffs this season.

There isn’t much else down here. I did get something caught under a finger nail while I was scraping the bottom of the barrel though. Oh look! It’s “What’s right” number three. Seven out of the next ten games are at home. RSL needs to gain more confidence. With more confidence they should be able to break through on the road. Let’s hope they continue to play well at home and find a way to finish their opponents off convincingly. No mercy please!

What's wrong in the Real World: Road Rash- RSL is absolutely horrible on the road. The Colorado game…well, I’m not even sure what that was. The collapse in the end at Dallas was a song I’m really getting tired of listening to. Jason and his crew need to figure this one out soon. If not, I’ll try to bring high hopes for the team again next year. Someone pass the rash cream.

Injuries- We have a lot of nicked-up players (Morales – groin, Espindola – hamstring, Joy – bone-spurs, Sturgis – hamstring, Olave – knee?), just to name a few. We’ve been unlucky in this department, but it’s something we have to deal with. And what is up with Sturgis? We really need this guy, but will he ever be healthy for a long stretch? Maybe we can put him in a protective bubble and let him play like that. Our very own “Bubble Boy”, think about it.

Coaching- Why do I feel like we keep getting outplayed by the coaches from the other teams? It seems like we can never quite get the tactics right and we are slower than a dead snail at making adjustments. Too often we allow the other team, or the field we are playing on, or just about anything, have too much of an effect on what we do. We need to dictate play more, not the other way around.

Naming Names- Ian Joy needs to pull his head out of the darker places of life. It’s easier to see what’s going on around the field when you do. All kidding aside, I know he’s a better player than he’s shown us this year. Come on Mr. Joy, we need you.

Mantilla…Mantilla…Mantilla. I like you’re demeanor, but please O’ please, crisper passes and concentrate on good defensive positioning.

Robbie Findley needs to find his confidence. His first touch is dreadful so far this year. Also, with his speed, he needs to learn how to beat a defender when he’s one-on-0ne.

A brief look at the week ahead: We have a lot of home games coming up. We absolutely have to take advantage of this if there is any hope of making the playoffs this season. A win this weekend against San Jose would make a great start.

Final thoughts: Ok, so maybe I kept a shot glass of RSL Cool Aid hidden in the back of my refrigerator. I just can’t help being more optimistic than not. As down as I feel about the team right now, I still can’t wait until Saturday rolls around. I thank the soccer gods every day that RSL is here for my enjoyment and agony.

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A Real World Review: May 12, 2008

A Real World Review

A Review of Week 7 for RSL

(Review compliments of SoccerPrime, aka Ethan Gomberg)

This Weeks Results: 2-1 Win over FC Dallas
Record: 2-3-2
Points: 8

Key Developments: RSL wins, and manages to hold on to a lead against Dallas in stoppage time.

What's right in the Real World: Many things could have gone wrong here, some things did. But positives outweigh the negatives. Beckerman and Morales scored. It was Morales first goal of the season. RSL looked dangerous for most of the game and had many shots that were on target saved by the heroics of the always melodramatic Sala. Speaking of keepers, RSL’s own Rimando had some key saves, including one stuff on Thompson that looked to be a one on one situation. And Cutler with an excellent pass to Williams to setup the final goal. What alternate reality am I in?

What's wrong in the Real World: Stoppage time is still too scary at Rice-Eccles. Maybe its just me, but that 3+ minutes of stoppage time coupled with past years’ experience, made it seem to last for an eternity. Besides that, Morales coming off the pitch hurt in the 2nd half seems to bode ill for RSL’s number 1 paid player. Will we see him against Colorado? RSL’s forward thinking team seems to forget defense some times. But hey, a win is a win.

A brief look at the week ahead: Colorado is spinning after a loss in Houston, which seem to be a very hard fought battle. New attacker McManus from UK was ejected with a red after he was subbed on the bench. But dangers await. RSL isn’t use to the wide open field of Dicks. Can RSL’s narrow field mentality work here? Hello Christian Gomez!

Final thoughts: After watching all the games this year, and matches throughout their 3+ seasons of play, RSL always leaves me cringing at the end. Even when we are winning. I want that to stop, please. But I have to say, for the first time, RSL doesn’t look gassed out by the 60th minute which always seemed to be the case before the “Kreis era”. RSL seemed to fiddle with the idea of bunkerball in the 2nd half, but they quickly went back on the attack, to which I was glad to see. What do I want to see now? I want to see Deuchar more involved. I want to see the other forwards, like Findley and Moysisyan, able to control the ball and give service to the other players. And score dang it!

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Practice at Rice-Eccles: Friday May 9, 2008

A couple of us made it to today’s practice at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Here are a few observations:

• There was a new player participating. He has some good height. He appeared to be at least as tall as Borchers. Looked like they were trying him at outside back. I am pretty sure he is a foreigner, possibly from somewhere in Africa, but that is based on nothing other than my own questionable speculation. We didn’t really see enough to establish any kind of opinion, but he didn’t appear to be very nervous.


• Talley and Joy were no where to be seen. Sturgis and Nimo jogged around the field.


• After some basic warm-ups the players were divided into three teams of eight players each. Some members of the coaching staff were involved. They ran what at first appeared to be a somewhat complicated drill that might be difficult to describe. The area they played in had two smaller areas at each end and a dead zone in the middle. One team of eight players would begin making short passes within one of the small areas. Four players from another team would run in from the dead zone and begin trying to take the ball away. The remaining four players from that team stayed in the dead zone. After a given number of successful passes, I believe it was seven, they would attempt to cross it over the dead zone to the third team whose eight players were waiting in the other small area. If, instead, they were dispossessed they would have to immediately run to the other small area to prevent that team from completing seven consecutive passes. There was no doubt that the players were into it. There were a number of small, semi-lighthearted arguments over this and that which reminded me of the one sided view that players, coaches and fans always take during an actual match. Dema seemed to be somehow involved in most of these. It is really hard not to like him. I have no idea what rewards there are for these type of drills outside of making a case for playing time, but there was no lack of motivation at all.


• They followed this up with a 9v9 half-field scrimmage with three teams again. Williams is looking very good right now. Findley still does not look sharp. Horst is very vocal, especially for a rookie, and appears to be coming along well. Kevin Reiman looked good working the ball down the flanks with his quick feet. Robin Fraser participated and missed a couple of open shots on goal. The rest of the coaching staff were happy to give him a hard time.


• They finished up with some work on, what else, finishing. Cordoba looked especially good here today.


• The overall mood of the practice was intense and competitive, yet somehow laid-back at the same time. It is encouraging to see the way this team practices. Can they start to translate this into results in the near future?

Update

Just received some new information:

The outside back seen at practice today is a trialist named Yombe Williams, who was a teammate of David Horst's at Old Dominion and was drafted by Kansas City in the most recent SuperDraft. His look with RSL is independent of the Talley deal, and Garth/Jason will be looking at several options for the open roster spot.

Ian Joy did rest today because of the bone spur, but RSL hopes he will be back out there next week.

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Reserve Match Review: Sunday May 4, 2008

Reserve Match Review: RSL 5:LAG 2

Sunday May 4, 2008

(Review compliments of Derek Hoopes)

The wife and I made it up to Park City this past Sunday for our first visit to Quinn’s Junction Sports Complex and we absolutely enjoyed the experience. The setting was awesome with the surrounding mountains, the field (even though it was turf) was great, and the play was entertaining. If you are a Real Salt Lake soccer fan, you have to try it out soon. I highly recommend attending at least one of these games this year. We set up our folding chairs right next to the touch-line, so we were pretty much right on top of the action. It is completely different to watch a game this close to the field. The pace of the players seems much faster up close. And you can’t beat the price…it’s FREE! Also, if you have kids that are looking for autographs or the chance to meet some of the players, there is no better place to make that happen.

Though I was unable to concentrate on as many details of the game as I would have liked, I still came away with a few impressions and they are as follows:

Yura Movsisyan: We missed the very beginning of the game, so we did not see his quick goal in the first minute of play. Maybe that would have altered my opinion of his performance, but probably not. It was mostly the same Yura we have been watching so far this year. His touches were not always good; he played with the ball too long at times and consequently lost it to the other team. To me, he seems to be the hungriest player on RSL, and wants to score a goal so bad he nearly wets himself every time he gets the ball. While I think that it’s a good thing to have such a high level of desire, I think that right now it hampers his success on the field. He pushes too hard to make things happen. I think that once he learns to play smarter and more patiently and uses that desire to push at the right time…look out! He has a ton of potential. Just remember, he is still very young.

Matias Cordoba: I thought he had an average game. Sometimes he looked great. At other times he looked a little lost. I think the communication barrier is still playing a big role in his ability to acclimate with the team. There is no doubt that he has above average skill technically. And his creativity could be a huge asset for RSL in future league games, so I really expect to see him play more and more with the first team as the season progresses.

David Horst: I stand by my earlier observations. He is a CB stud in the making. I really enjoyed the opposing players that just sort of bounced off of him as he fought for a ball (he is so friggin big). He misjudged a few balls but his speed enabled him to get right back into position.

Nick Besagno: He looked steady and solid. I wish he would stay healthy long enough to enable RSL to determine his worth. If he can’t, how long will RSL have to keep him around?

Robby Findley: He had another one-on-one that he failed to convert, though I think the pass was weighted a little heavy and thus made it a pretty easy save for LA’s keeper.

Tino Nunez: I was very impressed with Tino’s play. He did a much better job holding the ball while playing with his back to the goal than he did at the Lobo’s game earlier in the year. I thought his first touch was good and his distribution was fairly solid as well. He created some problems for LA’s back line. If he keeps progressing he just might find himself a career in MLS.

Brennan Tenelle: Brennan was another rookie that impressed me. He was fast, aggressive on defense, and even created a stir or two up front on the offensive end. My first impressions of this kid had me placing him near or at the bottom of RSL’s roster. But, he is starting to move up on my board.

Kevin Reiman: Probably my favorite player to watch this match. He showed good ability on the ball, quickness, creative footwork, and his communication with his teammates was solid as well. The goal he scored from the left side, hitting it just inside the far post, was a thing of beauty. I can’t wait to see this kid play more.

Overall, I thought the Reserves played a good match. I think the depth of this team should equate to a lot of wins in the Reserve Division. If you have a wife or mother that’s an RSL fan, maybe a trip to Park City this upcoming weekend would make for a nice Mother’s Day.

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A Real World Review: May 5, 2008

A Real World Review

A Review of Week 6 for RSL

(Courtesy of Jeremy Horton, aka "I Believe in Kreis")

This Weeks Results: 4-0 Win over San Jose (Open Cup), 2-2 Draw with LAG
Record: 1-3-2
Points: 5

Key Developments: RSL plays well but still finds a way to give up points.

What's right in the Real World: Javier Morales had the breakout game a lot of us have been waiting for. His touch was sublime, he was strong on the ball despite Joey Franchino's thuggery, his crossing was pinpoint, his vision was good, and he made solid decisions. Nat Borchers and Jamison Olave continue to impress in the center of the back line and did a great job keeping Donovan and Gordon contained. Tony Beltran played with a lot of confidence in his first start, despite the mistake that led to the first LA goal, but he is an intelligent player and will learn not to be too cute that close to RSL's goal. Matias Cordoba made some nice plays in limited minutes. Dema Kovalenko looks like a great fit at defensive mid. And finally, Fabian Espindola and Kenny Deuchar have separated themselves from the pack at the forward spot - they are working well together and are finishing chances.

What's wrong in the Real World: The reserve forwards (Robbie Findley and Yura Movsisyan) continue to be highly disappointing. I don't have a lot of confidence in RSL's ability to get a late goal from a substitute right now. Findley continues to show poor touch and is invisible a lot, while Movsisyan's finishing is beyond bad and his lack of vision and passing is killing promising opportunities. The USOC match aside, Beckerman has had two subpar games in a row - I don't believe this team can provide a consistent 90-minute effort without him on his game. And finally - I feel like we've been saying this for four years now - RSL continue to make one or two costly mental errors each game that opponents are capitalizing on. RSL need to learn to put teams away when they have a lead, get up by enough that you can absorb a few mistakes/bad calls, or learn to not make so many of those mistakes.

A brief look at the week ahead: FC Dallas @ RSL. The lack of results have put RSL in the unenviable position of having what I would consider to be a must-win game very early in the season. Unfortunately Dallas is not the team you want to be facing in a must-win game. They are a very good technical team and will try to possess the ball - a good formula for finding success on the road. RSL will need to find the defensive bite in their midfield to limit Dallas' possession. Shutting down Kenny Cooper will also be key.

Final thoughts: While RSL have done an admirable job at addressing a lot of needs in the offseason, I still see a glaring one remaining that nobody seems to be talking about. In the two home draws this season (vs. Chicago and LA), there have been some common denominators. First, RSL dictating the play most of the time. Second, solid defense.....but here's where it starts to go downhill. Third, the inability to finish good chances. Fourth, one or two key mental mistakes, and fifth - the part I want to talk about - a player for the opponent who can make you pay for those mistakes. We saw Cuauhtemoc Blanco make RSL pay for essentially its only mistake of the match. And we saw David Beckham make RSL pay - twice - for its two big mistakes.

Every team makes mistakes - there's no perfect soccer team out there. What RSL have never had is a player who can make opponents pay for their mistakes. RSL haven't had a player who is nearly automatic on free kicks or can consistenly deliver late goals in close games when the pressure is on. In other words, RSL do not have a "go-to guy".

Perhaps in the future RSL will use their DP slot on a player like this. But in the near term, this player will likely have to emerge. My hope would be Espindola emerging as RSL's hero when a late goal is needed. But until that happens and somebody steps up, RSL will likely continue to get burned for their mistakes while allowing their opponents' mistakes to go unpunished.

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Open Cup Match Review

RSL 4: San Jose 0

I usually don't like to write match reviews, but because of the weather, the weeknight, and the fact that it was an Open Cup match against an expansion team I figure there might be fewer reviews floating out there in cyberspace. Here are some of my thoughts:

• Goals by Beckerman (2), Movisyan, and Williams. Beckerman's first goal was opportunistic as it came off of a header from Mantilla. His second goal was a fantastic long-range shot well-placed in the lower left corner of the goal away from the keeper. Movsisyan's goal was off of a spectacular pass from Cordoba who passed up an open shot himself. Williams goal was off of a well placed pass from Nunez.
• Man of the Match: clearly Captain Kyle. Two goals, captain of the team, and great play all through the first half.
• Other standouts: Seitz, Cordoba. Seitz wasn't challenged a ton, but he was up to the occasion every time. He also was very vocal in organizing the defense and was pretty solid with his distributions. Cordoba had a great game in the center of the midfield. He beat his man on several occassions, made good passes (particularly the play on Yura's goal), and had some well placed corner kicks into the box. In addition, he had two wonderful takeaways: the first setting up Yura's goal, the second later in the first half in which he had a clear path to the goal, and was tackled wildly from behind about 23 yards out (thanks football lines). Mysteriously there wasn't even a foul called, when one could argue that this could have been a red (although he was a bit far out maybe to be an imminent scoring threat).
• Other solid contributors: Beltran, Olave, Mantilla, Wingert. All quite solid.
• Poorest performers: Findley, Movsisyan. Movsisyan had numerous chances, and continued his tendancy to play with the ball too much. The goal he scored was an easy shot set up completely by Cordoba. He should have done much more and had several wasted opportunities. Findley hustled, but did not make any serious opportunities develop from this hustle. His first touch continued to fail him. I noticed that his touch was typically well intentioned with him trying to put the ball in the right spots but his first touch is almost always too heavy.
• San Jose was forced to use a couple of subs early in the first half as two players (one was Cochrane I believe, not sure who the other was) heads collided. One of them was bleeding quite badly.

Before we get too excited about this win, it was only an Open Cup game against an expansion team. However, this team has played very well at home this season. This match was the second home game in a row with a 4-0 result, and the second home game in which Beckerman came up with a brace.

(click to enlarge)

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A Real World Review: April 28, 2008

A Real World Review
A review of Week 5 in MLS
This Real World Update brought to you by: chronicrslnewb (aka Darin Hoopes)

This Weeks Match Results: 4-1 loss at DC United
Current Record: 1-3-1
Points: 4

Key Developments: RSL’s struggle to find results continues.

What's right in the Real World:
There have been a few mistakes, but there is no question the defense is improved this year. Borchers deserves a great deal of credit here (I hadn‘t even heard of him before this year), but I also believe it is due to the defense being more organized. If you are going to build a successful team that will perform consistently over the long term I believe the defense is the best place to start. We still have a long ways to go, but the play of the defense leads me to believe we are headed in the right direction. In order for us to start getting results we cannot afford a step backward of any kind in this area. Rimando’s continued solid play is definitely worth mentioning here as well. He hasn't had to do as much as last year, which is nice to see, but he has played well.

What's wrong in the Real World:
The midfield is having some struggles, but I’d like to talk about our greater struggles at forward. Deuchar and Findley continue to be an unproductive pairing. They are showing no signs of progress. You would have thought that Deuchar would be flicking headers for Findley to run on to, but it’s just not happening. I am baffled every time I see Deuchar running for a ball out wide while Findley is positioned in the middle. Findley still looks much better coming off the bench. He is not showing signs of developing into much of a multi-dimensional player at this point. He is frequently giving the ball away when he is isolated against a lone defender. How much longer will the coaching staff give him a chance to develop as a starter. I would have preferred to see Movsisyan get the start and then have Findley come in off the bench. I am really hoping that Espindola gets healthy soon.

A brief look at the week ahead:
San Jose Earthquakes at Real Salt Lake (LHUSOC) - During the DC United post game coverage on KSL Coach Kreis indicated that we would see some players get their first opportunity to play this year. No surprise there. I think it is likely that Cordoba and Seitz will be given a chance to start. A couple of other players should be given some game time as well. It will be interesting to see what the players will do with the time they are given. The team needs a solid win here.

Los Angeles Galaxy at Real Salt Lake - The Galaxy’s lineup is disjointed at best and their results should be inconsistent and streaky throughout the year. Donovan hit a hat trick on Sunday and also scored two goals in their previous match. LA will be coming into Salt Lake with some upward momentum. RSL’s offense has struggled to finish it’s chances in every game except the home match against DC. That gives added importance to the defense stepping up and keeping Donovan, Beckham and Co. in check to give our offense more time to give us a lead. Things could get ugly if LA scores first.

Final thoughts:
I seem to view every upcoming match as an important one that will reveal a lot about the character of the team. Well, guess what? I think the next three home games are very important, if not crucial, and will tell us a lot about what the rest of the season will be like. Some of the players, as well as Jason, appeared as though they had been emotionally kicked in the gut after the DC match. Up to this point it always appeared as though they still believed in themselves after every match. There are signs that they may have begun to question themselves. If they can pull it together and do whatever it takes to get a win in each of the next three matches it will be a very important step in developing this team‘s belief in itself. Ties are just not acceptable.

There was talk about RSL having turned the corner after the 4-0 win over DC at home. After this Saturday’s 1-4 loss at DC there has been talk of this being the same old RSL. I think the truth is somewhere in between. I have an overly optimistic history when it comes to RSL. However, I was not ready to say that we had turned the corner after the game against DC. I thoroughly enjoyed that game and it was a great feeling to win 4-0, but it was one game. I am not going to be throwing myself off the ledge after losing to DC at RFK either. Don’t get me wrong, I was unhappy. Every game is a big deal to me. Sometimes I wonder how healthy it is to be as hooked on RSL as I am. I do, however, agree with the idea that you shouldn’t get too high during the highs and you shouldn’t get too low during the lows. Our painful history over the past three years makes it especially difficult to be patient, but I still believe we are headed in the right direction. I know there will be people who disagree with me and I don’t have a problem with that. I don’t think that someone who says something critical about the team is somehow less of a fan. Whatever your opinion, one thing is clear. This team is going to have to prove they are for real by getting results.

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Player Profile: Nathan Sturgis

Nathan Sturgis

Position: Midfielder
Date of Birth: July 6, 1987 (20)
Place of Birth: St. Augustine, Florida
Height: 5 ft 10 in
Weight: 150
Previous Clubs: LA Galaxy
National Team Exp: United States (U-17, U-20 & U-23)
Jersey Number: #12
Current Status: Senior Roster
How Acquired: trade (with Robbie Findley) with LA Galaxy for Chris Klein

Personal summary: Attended Clemson University. Was part of U-17 residency program in Bradenton, Florida.

Professional summary/highlights: Drafted #12 in first round by LA Galaxy in 2006 as a Generation Adidas player. Started in 15 matches in his rookie season and in 8 matches in 2007 with LA before being traded. Is very versatile and has played in various defense and midfield positions. However, Garth Lagerway has indicated that at this level (MLS) he needs to specialize and that RSL feels his best fit is as a defensive midfielder. Appears to be a mainstay with US youth teams.

Webpages/Myspace/Facebook:

Youtube/video links:

Other links: MLS Player profile: Nathan Sturgis/MLSnet, Wikipedia Page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Sturgis, US Soccer: Profile

Keepin It Real Expectations for 2008: Nathan has all the credentials that a young US soccer player can have. He has been part of the Bradenton group, a GA player, and a significant part of the US youth national teams for several years. He should see significant time this season, but with a logjam at midfield RSL may let him develop more with the reserve team and with the US Olympic squad and get him some selective appearances on the senior team. If the team has needs, injuries or deficiencies in the midfield this role could be expanded.

Fans Scorecard Ratings: Sturgis Rating

Interesting Fact/tidbits/quote:

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Player Profile: Robbie Findley

Robbie Findley

Position: Forward
Date of Birth: August 4, 1985
Place of Birth: Phoenix, AZ
Height: 5 ft 9 in
Weight: 165
Previous Clubs: LA Galaxy
National Team Exp: United States (1 Cap)
Jersey Number: #10
Current Status: Senior Roster
How Acquired: traded (w/ Nate Sturgis) from LA Galaxy for Chris Klein

Personal summary: Parents are Trinidad & Tobago émigré’s. Robbie qualifies for dual citizenship because of this. Played for Oregon State, and scored 10 game winners there, earning all PAC-10 honors in the process. Robbie has been a fixture with the US YNT in recent months.

Professional summary/highlights: Selected by LAG in the 2nd round of the Superdraft. During his brief MLS career, Robbie recorded 8 goals while starting just 14 games, and coming on as a substitute in 11 others. He showed glimpses of a quality finishing touch to go along with his tremendous pace.

Webpages/Myspace/Facebook:

Youtube/video links: Most significant goal in RSL history?, AYL Double Talk (with Beckerman)

Other links: MLS Player profile: Robbie Findley/MLSnet, Wikipedia Page: Robbie Findley/Wiki

Keepin It Real Expectations for 2008: Robbie should arguably be a starter this season given the potential he demonstrated last year. His goal production (8 goals in 1,300 minutes) was much greater than either Movsisyan (5 goals in 1,200 minutes) or Espindola (2 goals in 600 minutes) last season. I believe that Findley and Deuchar will emerge as RSL’s top two forwards this season. However, his pace coming off of the bench can be a great benefit in the second half. Also, questions still remain if Robbie can again demonstrate (and improve upon) the touch that he showed last season. His National Team experience should prove dividends down the road for him and for the club.

Fans Scorecard Ratings: Findley Rating

Interesting Fact/tidbits/quote: Robbie is a cousin of NBA guard, Mike Bibby. Another cousin, Shaun McDonald plays wide receiver in the NFL.

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And your starting lineup is...

(okay so this is only my version, not an official one)

FW: Espindola, Deuchar
CM: Morales, Williams, Beckerman
HM: Talley
DF: Joy, Borchers, Mantilla, Wingert
GK: Rimando

potential subs: Findley, Olave, Movsisyan, Beltran, Kovalenko

FORWARDS: This one is the most up in the air in my mind. I think there is no question that Deuchar will be a starter this season. This may not happen in the first match, since he has missed a couple of weeks of recent practice due to work permit issues, but it will happen. My opinion is that Deuchar is our odds on favorite for a 10+ goal scorer this season. However, if he doesn't integrate with our playing style or our playing style doesn't adapt to him, then he could end up being a bench-warmer. I don't think this will happen. Espindola, Findley and Movsisyan are all pretty similar - young, with great potential, need experience, and need to prove they are finishers. I have chosen Espindola because of his crossing ability, his foot skills, he can play on the left, and because he may be the most accustomed to the style of play that has been advertised for our club this season. You could easily argue Movsisyan based on his preseason, he seems very focused, has good speed and a little more strength than Espindola or Findley. You could also argue Findley as our returning Golden Boot winner. I think he may be more suited as a second half substitute.

Midfield: There seemed to be alot of options from a personnel standpoint. Unfortunately, my opinion is that two of the options have not taken the step forward that we would have liked. Cordoba does not appear to have yet lived up to the advance billing that we received. The fact that he has recently performed with the reserves (and did not appear to standout) and that he did not start against KC in the final preseason match seems to confirm this. It also does not appear that Kovalenko has yet found a great fit into our roster. We have essentially asked him to play a bit out of position, and he hasn't yet flourished in this wide midfielder role. Beckerman? Solid. Can really play all over the midfield, and the way he moves, he will. Talley may be a bit of a disappointment for some fans, but with this group I don't mind this at all. In a pure holding midfield role he is plenty capable. And his leadership ability will help us out in the defensive side of the ball. Finally Javi Morales - my pick for most surprising player this season. I believe the league will take notice as he shows his stuff.

Defense: This seems like it has evolved pretty nicely. Joy, on the left side will leave his heart on the field. May be a bit lacking in the speed department. Will support the offense with good crossing ability. We've all heard about his tough tackles. Let's see it on the field. Borchers is a no-brainer. Good size and skill, and great experience and leadership on the field. Mantilla can be a bit erratic but brings good energy and a tough attitude. Will he hold off Olave (a monster on the pitch) from cracking the lineup? Probably - especially early in the season. Wingert is being challenged by Beltran who has been impressive in the preseason, and enters the opener trying to overcome an injury. But his experience should keep in the starting lineup for the early part of the season.

Goalkeeper: Nick Rimando. 'Nuff said.

Style: Tough hard-nosed physical play in our 1/3rd of the field. Short, tight passing with the ball flowing out of the back through the midfield into the offensive third. Mix in some balls over the top to Deuchar. Can this all fit together? And quickly? Let's all hope.

Go Real!

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Player Profile: Fabian Espindola

Fabian Espindola

Position: Forward
Date of Birth: May 4, 1985 (22)
Place of Birth: Merlo, San Luis, Argentina
Height: 5 ft 9 in
Weight: 160
Previous Clubs: LDU Quito, Aucas, Talleras, Boca Juniors
National Team Exp: none
Jersey Number: #9
Current Status: Senior Roster (International)
How Acquired: transfer

Personal summary: Born in Argentina. Best known in Salt Lake for his backflip after scoring a goal against Kansas City.

Professional summary/highlights: Played at the age of 20 with Boca Juniors. Then moved to another Argentine club, Talleras. After a year there, he played for 2 different Ecuador teams, Aucas and LDU Quito. Joined RSL in 2007 along with fellow Argentines, Javier Morales and Matias Mantilla.

Webpages/Myspace/Facebook:

Youtube/video links: Kansas City goal

Other links: MLS Player profile: Fabian Espindola/MLSnet, Wikipedia Page: Fabian Espindola/Wiki

Keepin It Real Expectations for 2008: To me the race for the second forward (after Deuchar) is a 3-way race between Findley, Espindola and Movsisyan. I have selected Espindola despite Findley seemingly being the lead candidate after winning the Golden Boot for RSL last season, and despite Yura having a seemingly stellar preseason. Why? Primarily his left footed ability and his crossing ability. Also, Findley may be more effective bringing his fresh legs and speed at later stages in a match. I could really see this one going any one of the 3 ways, but since I had to make a pick…

Fans Scorecard Ratings: Espindola Rating

Interesting Fact/tidbits/quote:

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